Cotton-press



(No Model.) 3SheetS-Sheet 1. W. T. BESSONBTTE.

COTTON PRESS. No. 492,132. 'Patented Peb. 21, 189s.

(NoModel.) 3 sheets-sheet 2.

W'. T. BESSONETTE.

COTTON PRESS.

No. 492,132. Patented Pgb. 2:1, 189s.

? 20 el 0 v 25 (No Model.) i a sheets-snede. W. T. BESSONETTE.

COTTON PRESS. l

Patentd Feb. 21, 1893.

VILLIAM T. BESSONETTE, OF TEMPLE, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO WARREN A.PATTERSON, OF LAMPASAS, TEXAS.

COTTON-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,132, dated February21, 1893.

Application filed August 6. 1892. Serial No. 442,358. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: f

Be itknown thatI, WILLIAM T. BnssoNETTE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Temple, in the county of Bell and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Cotton-Press, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in cotton presses of that classwherein cylindrical bales or rolls of cotton are formed, andsimultaneously pressed. l

The objects of my invention are to produce a cheap and simple machine,designed to be employed in connection with the ordinary cotton-gin toreceive the cotton as it passes therefrom in the form of a soft bat, andsubsequently to compress and roll the same into a bale-like form, afterwhich the bands may be applied.

Various other objects and advantages will appear in the followingdescription, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointedout in the claims hereto annexed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cotton pressembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a reverse side View. Fig. 3 is aVertical longitudinal sectional View. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation. Fig. 5is a transverse vertical section through the baling-rolls. Fig. 6 is adetail in perspective of the core-roll. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectionof the inclined power-transferring shaft, the movable sleeve thereon,and the bell-crank lever for operating the same.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

In practicing my invention, I construct a suitable frame for carryingthe mechanism, which, in the present instance, consists, chiefly, of apair of metal sides or standards 1 and 2. These standards 1 and 2 havetheir lower ends divided and disposed in opposite directions, formingfeet 3, for lending stability. At their upper ends perforated lugs 4 areprovided at the front and rear corners of the standards, and through thefeet and lugs transverse tie-bolts 5 are passed, which bolts serve tomaintain the standards in relative and rigid relation. Near the rearupper edge of the standards there is formed an upper and a lower pair ofbearingopenings 6 and 7,

respectively. The upper bearings are somewhat elongated and receive thetrunnions or journals 8, of an upper feed-roll 9. Ooncavedfollower-blocks 10 are seated upon the upper sides of the journals andare borne upon by apair of binding-screws 11, whose upper ends projectabove the standards and are there exposed to manipulation bythe operatorthrough the medium of a wrench. One of the journals of the roll 9 isextended beyond its bear- 6o ings, namely, the one formed in thestandard 1, and at its extremity has keyed rigidly thereon a cog-wheel12, of a diameter corresponding with the roll 9. Beyond the cog-wheel apulley 13 is mounted on the journal and is 65 designed to be driven by aproper belt receiving motion from any suitable source, as, for instance,the motor employed for operating the gin.

In the lower bearing 7, which is in an in- 7 clined plane with relationto the upper bearing, ent-er the journals 14 of a lower feed-roll 15.This feed-roll l5 is designed to run in contact, or nearly so, with theupper feed roll 9, and has one of its journals passed through thebearing 6 in the standard 1 and, like its companion 9, is provided witha rigidlymounted gear or cog-wheel 16, that is engaged by the uppercompanion cog-wheel 12. The cog-wheel 16 is of the same diameter as the8o roll 15.

Near the frontAV edge of the two standards, and below the planes of therolls 9 and 15, pairs of elongated bearing-openings 17 and 18 areprovided. f In the bearing-openings 17 85 take the trun nions orjournals 19 of an upper pressing and baling roll 20, one of whosejournals projects beyond the standards 2.

In a lower pairof bearings take the journals 2l, of a lower compressingand baling roll 9o 22, of a, preferably, less diameter than the roll 20.

23 designates a pair of levers which are fulcrumed upon fulcrum-pins 24,immediately in rear of the lower bearing 18. Each of these levers isprovided at its rear end with a sliding weight25, and at its front end,which takes under the journals of the lower roll 22, is recessed toreceive said journals, whereby the weights exert an upward pressurethrough loo the medium of the levers against the under sides of thejournals of the roll 22, which latter is thus elevated, as will beapparent.

Each of the standards l and 2 is provided with a circular opening 2t,located between the bearing-openings 17 and 18. That perforation formedin the standard l is threaded, and in the same is located an externallythreaded bearing-bolt 25, The inner end of the bolt is provided with abearing-socket 2G, and at each side of the same the bolt is splitlongitudinally, as indicated at 27, whereby it is self-locking at anypoint of its adjustment within the perforation. The other end of thebolt has a pin 2S, passed transversely therethrough, by which it may bemanipulated, or other means may be provided for such manipulation. Theremaining,r perforation 2l, that is the one formed in the standard 2,con* stitntes a bearing-opening for a short shaft 2D. This shaft 29carries a small pin 30, at its inner end and projecting from its side,and its inner end is further provided with a bearingsocket or cavity 32.At its outer end a beveled gear 33 is rigidly mounted and beyond thesame the said shaft is journaled in a yoke-plate 34, which is supportedupon pins 35, projecting laterally from the standard 2.

Diagonally opposite each other, at the front and rear edges of thestandard 2, are located laterally-projecting bearing-lu gs 35, and inthe same are formed bearing openings which receive the ends of aninclined shaft 3G. The upper bearing is provided with a followerblock37, and a set-bolt 3S is threaded in the end of the lug in which thebearingis formed and bears upon the block, so that said shaft may bemoved inwardly, as will be apparent. A sleeve 3D is splined and designedto reciprocate upon the inclined shaft 3G, and carries at its upper enda frictional pulley 40, While its lower end has formed thereon a groovedcollar or boss ll. A stub-shaft 42 projects from the standard 2, nearits center and up per end, immediately above the shaft 3G, and upon thesame there is loosely mounted for rocking a bell-cranked lever 44. Therear branch of the bellcranked lever is forked slightly and embraces thecollar al, of the hollow shaft or sleeve 39,whileits front branch is, bymeans of a pair of links 45, loosely con nected with the journal 19 atthat side of the machine, of the roll 20. rllhat journal of the lowerrearfeed-roll l5 that projects through the standard 2, is provided witha large fric tion-disk 4G, considerately greater in dialneter than thepulley e0, which bears thereagainst.

Lt7 designates the oore-roll, upon which the cutton bale is to beformed, and the same is hollow or tubular and has its periphery providedwith a series of minute jags or indentations, or otherwise roughened soas to engage the cotton. The ends of the core-roll are provided withheads Aa8 and 4.9, the former having a central lug 50, and the latterhead being concaved and forming a socket. The lug 50 enters the socketor cavity at the inner end of the threaded bearing-bolt, while thesocket receives the inner end of the short shaft. The wall of the socketis further provided with a notch 5l, which engages andinterlocks withthe pin before described as pro jecting from the side of the shortshaft. By loosening the bolt, it will be obvious the coreroll may beremoved, and inasmuch as the bale, as will hereinafter appear, is formedthereon, thc bale willalso be removed.

A pair of levers 53 are givoted at their rear ends to the outer sides ofthetwo standards l and 2, and intermediate their ends are recessed so asto receive and rest upon thejournals 19 of the upper pressing and balingroll 20. At their front extremities these levers have adjustable weights55. In this manner, it will be seen that the two rolls employed in thecompressing and balingoperations and design ated as 2O and 22, arealways forced toward each other and exert pressure upon the coreroll andthe material thereon.

This being the construction, the operation is as follows: The cottonpasses from the gin in a soft bat, as is usual, and is caught betweenthe two feed-rolls at the rear end of the machine, where its thicknessis reduced by the combined pressure of said rolls, such pressure beingregulated in the manner before described. After passing between therolls, the leading end of the cotton is guided by an inclined table 5S,located between the standards, to a point between the lower pressing andbaling roll and the core-roll, the fiber of the now thin sheet of cottonbeing caught by the roughened surface of the core roll and carried bythe latter over and to the rear so that it is continued around thecore-roll. In this manner the cotton is wound upon the core-rollcontinuously, and'its laminals or layers are constantly under pressureby the pressing and baling rolls bearing thereon, which rolls arepermitted to yield as the bale increases in size. After the bale isformed, it is removed by first withdrawing the bear ing-bolt that servesto support one end thereof, and subsequently forcingthe roll of cottonoff the core-roll, which may be accomplished with but very slightoppositionupon the part of the said roll by reason of the fact that theteeth thereof are exceedingly minute and short and barely sufficient toengage the first laminal of the bale. Motion is conveyed through thebelt and pulley to the large friction-pulley, and at the beginning ofthe operation the small friction-pulley t() is near the outer peripheryof said large friction-pulley. As the movements of the parts continue,and the bale increases in size, the upward movement of the roll 20, ascaused by the increasing bale, serves, through the medium of the linkst5, to rock the bell-crank lever 44 thus causing the hollow shaft orsleeve to be drawn to the front gradually and the position of the pulley40 to change and gradually approach IOO the center of the largefriction-pulley. Such changing of the relative positions of the twopulleys causes the core-roll to have a change of speed, namely, todecrease and thus I compensate for the increased diameter of the balebeing constructed, and canse it to run slower as the bale reaches thepoint of completion. Hence, I avoid any accumulation of cotton betweenthe feed-rolls and balingrolls, as will be obvious. As soon as thecotton is removed from the baling-rolls, the'weights cause them toresume their former positions, thatis move toward each other, and inthis manner the bell-crank is rocked and the sleeve moved to the rearwhere the pulley 40 resumes its former position.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be observed that I have provided a machine ofcomparatively simple construction, that is strong and durable, that isdesigned to be operated inv conjunction or intimate relation with theordinary cotton gin and adapted to receive the cotton issuing therefrom,cornpress the same, conveniently bale it, all in one continuousoperation.

Previous to removing the bale from the press, metal ties or bands arepassed around the same, said bands being guided by a curved shield 60,located in rear of the core-roll.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. In a press of the classdescribed, the combination with opposite side standards havingbearing-openings, pressing and baling rolls journaled in the openings,and bearing-openings located in the standards between the rolls, ofmeans for forcing the rolls toward each other, cotton feed-devices, ashort shaft journaledin one of the intermediate bearing-openings andhaving its inner end provided with a radiating pin, a threaded boltmounted in the opposite bearing and provided at its inner end with abearing-lng, means for driving the short shaft, and a core-roll havingits outer surface roughened and provided with opposite heads, one ofwhich forms a socket having a notch for the reception of the inner endof the short shaft and its pin, and the other of which has a lug forengaging the bearing-cavity of the bolt, substantially as specified.

2. In a press of the class described, the combination with the oppositeside standards having pairs of transversely-opposite elongated slotsforming bearings, an npperand a lower roll having trunnions mounted inthe bearings, cotton feed devices located in rear of said rolls, anintermediate table, means for yieldingly pressing the rolls together, anintermediate removable core-roll, means for revolving the upper andlower rolls, and for revolving and gradually increasing the speed of thecore-roll, substantially as specified.

3. In a press of the class described, the combination with the oppositeside standards, the

pair of rear feed-rolls, means for driving the same and communicatingmotion from one to the other, a large friction-disk on one of saidrolls, and a pair of yielding rolls located in the front of thestandards, of a removable core roll located between the front rolls,means for yieldingly pressing the front rolls thereagainst,bearing-shafts for the core-roll, a pinion ou one of said shafts, alongitudinal shaft, bearings for the same, a sleeve splined on thelongitudinal shaft and provided at its inner end with an annular collar,a friction pulley at the rear end of the sleeve contacting with thefriction-disk, a pivoted bell-crank lever having its rear end forked toengage the groove of the sleeve and its front end loosely connected witha journal of one of the front rolls, substantially as specified.

,4. In a press of the class described, the combination with the sidestandards, the rear guide-rolls, means for driving the same and fortransmitting motion from one to the other, of a friction-disk carried byone of the rolls,fa pair of front yieldingly-mounted baling and pressingrolls, a shaft supported atv the side of the standard, a sleeve mountednon-rotatably for sliding on the shaft, a friction pulley mounted on theupper end of the sleeve, connecting devices between the sleeve and thefront roll, whereby an upward movement of the roll causes a movement ofthe sleeve, a core-roll between the front rolls, and means for drivingthe same, substantially as specified.

5. In a press of the class described, the combination with the oppositestandards, the pair of loosely journaled feed-rolls geared t0- gether,means for operating the same, a friction-disk carried by one of saidrolls, bearings located at the opposite sides of the disk and in frontthereof, one of said bearings being elongated, a shaft journaled in thebearings, a follower-block mounted on the shaft, a bolt bearing on theblock, a sleeve mounted on the shaft, a pulley carried by the sleeve andcontacting with the disk, of a pair of front rolls, an intermediatecore-roll, and devices located between one of the front rolls and sleevewhereby a movement of said roll will serve to draw the sleeve toward thefront,

substantially as specified.

6. In a press of the class described, the combination with the oppositestandards, the tiebolts for securing the same, the pairs ofbearing-openings near the rear upper edge of the standard inclined withrelation to each other, the two rolls having their journals located inthe bearings, a follower-block located in the upper bearings,binding-bolts passed through the standards and bearing on the blocks,gearwheels mounted on corresponding ends of the rolls and engaging eachother, and a pulley mounted on one end of one roll and a friction-diskon the opposite end of the companion roll, of the front elongatedbearings, the upper and lower rolls journaled therein, the front andrear diagonally-opposite bearing lugs, the shaft journaled therein andpro- IIO vided at its lower end with a beveled gear, the sliding sleevesplined upon the shaft, the friction pulley at the upper end of thesleeve, the stud projecting from the standard, the belleranked levermounted on the stud and engaging the sleeve, links connected to theopposite end of the bell-crank lever and to the roll, pivoted leversfulorulned on the standard, arranged above and below eaeh other and thefront rolls and bearing upon the journals thereof, Weights upon the rearends of the lower levers7 and front ends of the upper levers,bearing-openings between the front rolls, an adjustable bearing-bolt inone ot' the openings, a short shaft in the other, a 15 roughenedcore-roll supported thereby, and a beveled gear mounted on the outer endof the short shaft and engaging the beveled gear of the inclined shaft,substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 2o my own I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

W'ILLAM T. BESSONE'ITE,

Witnesses:

W. A. PATTERSON, W. S. DUVALL.

